A South African newspaper has published what it says are e-mails showing local athletics officials authorising sex tests be done on runner Caster Semenya, reports Sapa and Associated Press.

South African officials have repeatedly said that tests were done only abroad, not in South Africa, before Semenya's 800-metre world victory.

In e-mails published Friday by Mail & Guardian, general manager of Athletics South Africa Molatelo Malehopo apparently gives team doctor Harold Adams permission to "go ahead" with tests requested by the international athletics body, the news agency reports.

ASA president Leonard Chuene was copied in on an earlier e-mail to Malehopo asking for advice on handling the "confidential matter."

Neither Chuene, Malehopo nor Adams were immediately available for comment.